Posted by JDNewbie on June 05, 2013 at 17:32:05 from (68.102.184.71):
In Reply to: Sports posted by jhilyer on June 05, 2013 at 10:03:00:
I've been struggling with the proper place for athletics for years. I'm a teacher. More specifically I teach orchestra. I try not to be bitter towards athletics as I do believe they have a place. Unfortunately, that place has become grossly exaggerated in today's public schools. Athletics have become the tail that wags the dog. We no longer have schools. We have athletic teams that offer a few classes.
High school athletes grow up and sit on the couch and watch TV. High school musicians grow up and make music with other musicians. I'll be playing my violin LONG after these athletes are mere spectators. So much for "life-long learners".
In a neighboring town, the band director has been told, by the school board, that the band will be at every home football and basketball game. Students who have signed up for a music class are now required to be a musical jock strap for the athletic department in order to futher "school spirit". The music played for pep bands is mediocre at best and not what serious music students must study to become proficient musicians. Imagine if algebra was replaced with "score keeping" at the weekly game and you have a close comparison of what is being done to the music curriculum in that town.
Here, I have been going back and forth with an "Activity", or rather, "Athletics" Director who can't find 8 days out of the entire school year without an athletic event to have Band/Orchestra/Choir concerts. Between, Tennis, Cross Country, Football, Basketball, Wrestling, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Track, and Swimming (and don't forget Golf, Soccer, and Bowling, yes Bowling, in some places) there is an athletic event nearly every night. Concerts are part of the graded coursework for my class. The only reason the concert takes place in the evening is because parents and community members expect to attend. Otherwise, I would give a concert during my class time (and I just might yet). Athletics are "EXTRA"-curricular, but get priority when scheduling. I'm supposed to provide an educationally inferior experience for my students to accomodate the athletics calendar.
The only thing I can say is, do something about it. The "public" in public schools does not refer to who gets to go through the front door. It refers to who runs the place. Until the taxpayers stand up and say "ENOUGH", nothing will change. I can argue all I want, but until the community puts the priorities of the school district in order, it will be this way.
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